121 And he gave them teaching in the form of stories. A man had a vine-garden planted, and put a wall about it, and made a place for crushing out the wine, and put up a tower, and let it out to field-workers, and went into another country. 2 And when the time came, he sent a servant to get from the workmen some of the fruit of the garden. 3 And they took him, and gave him blows, and sent him away with nothing. 4 And again he sent to them another servant; and they gave him wounds on the head, and were very cruel to him. 5 And he sent another; and they put him to death: and a number of others, whipping some, and putting some to death. 6 He still had one, a dearly loved son: he sent him last to them, saying, They will have respect for my son. 7 But those workmen said among themselves, This is he who will one day be the owner of the property; come, let us put him to death, and the heritage will be ours. 8 And they took him and put him to death, pushing his body out of the garden. 9 What then will the master of the garden do? He will come and put the workmen to death, and will give the garden into the hands of others. 10 Have you not seen this which is in the Writings: The stone which the builders put on one side, the same was made the chief stone of the building: 11 This was the Lord's doing, and it is a wonder in our eyes? 12 And they made attempts to take him; but they were in fear of the people, because they saw that the story was against them; and they went away from him.
Matthew Henry's Commentary on Mark 12:1-12
Commentary on Mark 12:1-12
(Read Mark 12:1-12)
Christ showed in parables, that he would lay aside the Jewish church. It is sad to think what base usage God's faithful ministers have met with in all ages, from those who have enjoyed the privileges of the church, but have not brought forth fruit answerable. God at length sent his Son, his Well-beloved; and it might be expected that he whom their Master loved, they also should respect and love; but instead of honouring him because he was the Son and Heir, they therefore hated him. But the exaltation of Christ was the Lord's doing; and it is his doing to exalt him in our hearts, and to set up his throne there; and if this be done, it cannot but be marvellous in our eyes. The Scriptures, and faithful preachers, and the coming of Christ in the flesh, call on us to render due praise to God in our lives. Let sinners beware of a proud, carnal spirit; if they revile or despise the preachers of Christ, they would have done so their Master, had they lived when he was upon earth.